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HereThings, it would appear, finally were looking up for me. I'd left Los Angeles, leaving everything and everyone behind. Angel, Cordelia, Connor, Fred...Gunn and Lorne. Everyone. My flat, some of my things. What was important to me I loaded into a car and went with Buffy to Sunnydale. Where things didn't go as smoothly as they
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He pulled in and parked the van. Then? Then he was kissing me and I smiled against his lips as I kissed him back, wrapping my arms around him as I moved closer. We haven't done this all day. Little kisses here and there, but I like the kisses where he leaves me breathless. Those are the best kinds.
"Mmm," I pulled away and leaned in again, giving him a quick kiss. Licking my lips, I moved over and opened the door. "Time to start the fun day of painting." Giving him a smile, I got out and closed the door, then walked toward the back of the van so I could get the other things out that couldn't fit beneath my feet. Opening up the back door, I grabbed more of the bags before closing it again and waiting for him so we could go inside.
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Getting out of the car, I helped her pick up the supplies we'd gotten. Pain, other things, lemonade, gathering what I could into my arms, I walked into the warehouse. I was slightly comprehensive to enter, not knowing what that stupid ghost had done. But as I walked into the space that was going to be the office, I couldn't anything out of place.
Sighing, I let out a relieved breath and put everything on one of the tables left behind by whoever worked here before. Might be interesting to find out what this place was all those decades ago. Wouldn't want to run into any more surprises now would I?
"I'll just go close up the car," I said, fishing the keys out of my pockets. Leaning in for a quick kiss, and why not, I walked back to the car to lock it up when I noticed a rather fat cat in my backyard. Must be one of those stray cats. Wonder if there are any others around, not that I'd seen any. It was a gray; white one with stripes, your normal house, garden and kitchen variety. I did wonder where she got the food with her being so fat. It's wasn't as though there were places around here she could get some.
I think.
Ah well. Shrugging at that, I moved back into the warehouse again where Buffy was already hard at word. "What can I do to help?" I asked, taking off my coat and putting it out of the way of errant paint.
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"Hmm," I said as he walked back in and asked where to start. "Well, first, we should open up all the windows cause of the fumes," I started and looked over at him, not really sure of what I was doing. I mean, if you he asked me how to stake a vamp or break a kneecap in three places, then hey, I could pull that off. But painting?
So not my thing.
"Then, I guess we should do the living room? Or what would be a living room. Do you have a living room," I asked him and gave him a look before walking back over to the table and taking out the paints. "And, you have to tell me which paint you want for what room."
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"I'd like to get the office done first if you don't mind. The sooner I can start my business, the sooner I'll be settled in. And we can do the upstairs while I run the firm...which needs a name. Ah well, I'll think about that later."
I recalled the fights I had with Cordelia and Gunn about the name of our firm. Back when Angel fired us. Who'd have thought that, that period in my life even seemed simple compared to now. If it weren't for Buffy, I might as well still be sitting in some random pub and drink myself into oblivion, hopping for a quick death.
"I was thinking of using the gray blue down here? And then make one well yellow as a break or how do they call that?" I pointed at the largest wall which was going to divide the office and the lobby if you will. Of course the office was also going to be the library.
"And that room," I pointed to the one at the far end. "Will be the training room. I'm completely leaving that in your capable hands."
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With a nod, I walked over to the table with the paints and got out the pans that the paint would go in. One by one, I poured it in and set the rollers in them.
"Babe, you're gonna get carpeting right? Cause I might get paint all over the floor," I told him and then took off my jacket, tossing it aside before going back to what I was doing.
Grabbing the yellow pan, I walked over to the small wall that divided the rooms.
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Grabbing the other paint, I glanced around and then just picked a wall at random. Between the two of us, and Dawn later we might get this done fairly quickly. Maybe Tara and Willow would like to help out as well. Good god, Pryce. You really do have a death wish don't you? Having four females here to decide on our interiors will kill you.
It's a pity Xander is so damn hostile. He really can't accept people have changed can he? He never struck me as that narrow-minded. Maybe in time we'll get along a little better. At least to the point of being in the same room without trying to throttle each other. Or him giving me those death glares. I could really do without those. Sighing at that thought, I started to roll the paint on the wall.
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I started to roll the paint on the wall quickly, wanting to get this all over with. Time passed and I was finally done with one wall. I had to bring the other table over here so I could stand on it, but finally, it was done. I turned around, looking for Wes but I couldn't see him until he popped up from the other side of the wall.
"All done over there?" I asked and checked my watch that didn't exist on my wrist. I wondered what time it was and if Dawn was already out of school yet.
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"I think Dawn is getting out soon?" I held up my watch for her to see the time and checked out the wall she painted. "You can go pick her up while I finish that wall," I said. "Oh, this looks good. Are you certain you've never done something like this before?"
Leaning in, I kissed her forehead and chuckled at the pains platters all over her face. "You remind me to call the plumber, love. I need running water here so you can clean up." Which reminds me I also needed to call the electrician for some power. Would be very useful too wouldn't it?
Taking a step back, I looked at her and shook my head. "You were very wise to put on short weren't you?" I glanced down at my own paint splattered jeans. Well, luckily they were older ones.
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"See, now all this means is tonight when we're done you can wash it all off of me," I teased before leaning up and giving him a kiss. "And yes, I'll remind you to call a plumber. I'll be back in a bit," I said and plopped the roller in the pan before grabbing his keys to the van and walking out of the warehouse.
The drive didn't take that long, but Dawn didn't come out of school for another five minuts, so all I did was sit there and wait.
Finally, she came out and I honked the horn as I drove toward her.
"What are you doing here?" She asked me. Shrugging, I sighed before answering.
"You have a job today, get in."
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Getting out my cell phone, I watched her leave before dialing information. I got the number of Sunnydale plumber, and why do they only have one? And one for the electrician. The calls were made quickly. The electrician couldn't make it until tomorrow, but the plumber would be here in an hour. Well, good. We needed water more then electricity. Candles would get us a long way.
While I waited for Buffy to get back, I finished the wall rather quickly. I was still busy cleaning things up when the girls came in. Dawn looking rather sulky I might add.
"Dawn, how good to see you. I hope you don't mind helping me out here a bit?"
Her eyes lit up as she took in the room. "This is your place?" I nodded, while I walked over to Buffy. Leaning down, I gave her a kiss.
"Oooh!" Dawn bounced, and clapped her hands together. "You are *so* gonna need my help! Especially if Buffy is helping you with the decorating."
I raised my eyebrow at that. "I think she's doing a very good job of it," I said.
"You would," Dawn snorted as he rooted through the things we'd gotten.
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Carrying it back to another wall, I set it down and watched as Dawn looked around the room before finally going to the table and asking what color was for what. I explained to her what the hallway was going to be and then she was gone with the paint.
"Well, that was easy," I said as I rolled on the paint to the wall. "And has anyone ever told you how incredibly sexy you look with paint all over you?" I teased and went back to my job. Not that it was really sexy, I was just kidding cause paint was all over his cute pants and now? They were probably ruined. Me? I can feel my skin burning in some places cause of the paint, but no worries. The faster I get this done? The faster I get bathtime fun.
Hopefully with Wes.
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From the corner of my eyes, I see Dawn gesturing wildly and rolling her eyes. Confused I look at her and tilt my chin up. Again an eyerol, which looks frighteningly familiar, followed by a wave.
Ah. Right. I glance over at Buffy, still happily painting away before walking over to Dawn. "What is it?" I look startled as she shushes me.
"You look cute covered in paint?" she hissed, which is followed by a slap on my arm. "Dumbass!"
Ow. Frowning, I rub a hand over my arm and blink. "Excuse me?" Why did she do that?
"God, you're so helpless. Thank your lucky starts that I'm here to help out."
Yes, thank you *so* much, lucky stars. Dammit.
"You need to be more subtle and less with the dorky."
"Excuse me? I'm not dork thank you very much."
Dawn snorts and shakes her head. "Yeah, whatever. Now listen up, here's what you *should* be doing dorkboy."
Sighing, I give her a glare, which has no effect at all. And before I'm leaning in to listen what kind of advice she'll be having today. Yes, I'll be counting my lucky starts alright. Just to make sure I've not missed any when I get rid of them.
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I turned around when I noticed it had gotten really quiet and I saw them talking. About what? I'm not sure. Rolling my eyes, I went back to the task that I had in front of me, painting back and forth, back and forth, up and down. God, it was like that Karate Kid movie or something.
"I'm done over here, Wes," I said and plopped the roller in the pan sometime later. Turning around, I walked over to him and glanced at Dawn, seeing what she was doing, which was the whole painting thing too.
"What do you want me to do next?" I asked him and looked around the room before turning my green eyes back on him.
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"Awww, c'mon, Wes! She'll love it!" Dawn whispered, or tried to whisper to be accurate. "I know my sister don't I?" She nodded at that, giving me a look which dared me to deny that.
"Yes, well. But--"
"No buts! She'll love it. I know my sister." Crossing her arms over her chest, she raised both eyebrows and looked at me expectantly.
"I don't know, Dawn. It sounds very extreme and not...well, not something I'd do."
"Hel-lo?! Earth to dorkboy! That's the whole idea. It'll add to the surprise," she said resolutely.
"Dawn," I sighed, but before I opened my mouth to once again point out that I didn't like the plan, Buffy called me.
"You hollered, your majesty?" I smiled at her, ignoring Dawns giggling. "Next well...hmmm." Frowning, I looked around to see what we could do next. The plumber would arrive soon, and the furniture later this afternoon.
"How about we figure out where to put the furniture. The plumber should be over shortly as well. And carpeting should arrive soon too. Hopefully before the furniture."
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